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When To Change Your Air Filter? Top Signs To Consider

air filter

HVAC filters are obviously an important part of maintaining high indoor air quality in your home or office, but there are many factors to consider. A variety of factors impact the need to change your air filter, including both your environment (including indoor and outdoor pollution) and the quality of the filter you currently have installed. Fortunately, there are a few signs that indicate your HVAC filter should be replaced. 

Why Your Home Air Filters Need to be Changed

1. Visible Dirt & Dust

A small amount of dirt on your air filter is not a cause for concern. However, if dirt blocks both the surface and the material of an air conditioner’s filter, it should be replaced and is most likely long overdue. Having any dirty filters and/or ductwork can result in HVAC problems on many fronts.

When all the dirt on the filter blocks the airflow, your air conditioner will no longer be able to cool down your house properly an efficiently.  A small restriction on your cooling system’s filter caused by dirt and dust can result in a drastically reduced cooling performance.

In turn, your air conditioner will have to work harder, resulting in your having to pay much higher energy bills than normal. Additionally, your HVAC system may require extra maintenance. As a result of dust on the indoor coils, the cooling process becomes compromised. This can cause serious damage to the compressor, which is very expensive to replace, so you must consider replacing the filter it as soon as possible. 

2. Musty or Moldy Odor

A musty odor is another indicator that it’s time to update or change your air filter. If you have any furry creatures around your home, you may have noticed that they shed throughout the summer. 

Pet dogs and cats have a tendency to shed their fur and this results in bad odors. It may even smell musty if they linger around your inside of your house. The odor is sometimes also caused by mold and mildew in addition to pets. This bacterial growth emits a very unpleasant odor.

If your filter isn’t changed, all of these odor-causing contaminants will return to your home. Fortunately, just routine cleaning and maintaining your AC filter properly will often times fix the problem.

3. Allergies and Asthma

Another sign that your home air filters need replacing is if you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma. Keeping your old air filter too long can cause allergens to accumulate. You might actually find that your indoor air is more polluted than the air outside.

The next time you find yourself sneezing constantly, feeling stuffy, or your asthma flares up, it might be time to check your air filter. You should be aware that leaks in your ductwork can also lead to the influx of these allergens, so call a reputable HVAC contractor.

As the air filter becomes dirty and full, those irritating allergens will not be captured as efficiently. Allergies are most common in the spring and summer months. In cases of allergies, it is recommended you replace your air filter more often, every 30 to 60 days.

4. High Electricity Bills

When the electricity bill starts to climb, sometimes it’s difficult to figure out the exact reasons. Perhaps the AC system is malfunctioning, or an appliance isn’t working properly? We can expect higher electric bills in southern states like Florida during the summer since we rely heavily on air conditioning during the warm months. When your power bill is higher than normal, you may find that you’re dealing with a dirty air conditioning filter. As a result, preventative HVAC maintenance is critical. Keeping your HVAC system in good condition allows it to operate more efficiently, thus consequently, you will pay less for energy bills.

5. Air Is Not Cold Enough

When your air conditioner doesn’t keep the room as cool as it normally does, you may need to change a filter. Depending on the situation, this may mean that your HVAC system isn’t working properly, and that maintenance is required. When the HVAC air filter is clogged with debris, it hinders air circulation severely, thereby reducing the number of times cold air can be circulated in the building.

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Selecting the filters that are right for your home can be difficult and confusing at times. At US Home Filter we understand this, which is why we offer an experienced staff to help answer any questions you may have. For personal assistance with your air filter needs, please contact us now online or call us at (855) 237-1673 and we will do our very best to assist you in selecting the right filter for your individual needs. We want to earn your business and we guarantee your satisfaction! Take advantage of our quality products, vast selection, low prices, and enjoy FREE SHIPPING on every air filter order within the Contiguous USA.